Aicha Belco Maiga, president of the government body representing the area of Tessalit, reported from a colleague in the town, "Since 8 a.m....French troops are in Tessalit. They control the entrance to the town, as well as the administrative buildings."

"The people want the downfall of the regime," the protesters chanted while others said Ministry of Interior officials were "thugs".

1312 GMT:Tunisia. Police have fired tear gas at dozens of protesters in central Tunis and at the cemetery where slain opposition leader Chokri Belaid is due to be buried.

Groups of protesters reportedly tried to attack cars outside the El-Jellaz cemetery in southern Tunis, but the police fired tear gas to disperse them, while in the city centre they chased young protesters who had gathered on the main thoroughfare of Habib Bourguiba Avenue.

The Ministry of Defense said Wednesday that the ship, captured with the assistance of US forces, had material for bombs and suicide belts, explosives, Katyusha rockets, surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and large amounts of ammunition.

Last week, Yemeni President Abed Rabbu Mansour Hadi sent a message to his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling on him to stop sending arms and supporting insurgents.

1200 GMT:Tunisia. Tens of thousands of marchers have chanted slogans against the ruling Ennadha Party as they accompanied the coffin of opposition leader Chokri Belaid.

"Belaid, rest in peace, we will continue the struggle," the crowd shouted, holding portraits of the politician, shot dead outside his home on Wednesday.